When the Nintendo Wii was released this past November, it became clear certain games would translate better than others to the Wii's motion-sensitive control scheme. The golf portion of "Wii Sports" - which comes bundled with the Wii - hinted at the possibilities of a breakthrough golf experience on the Wii, but control issues and its overall brevity limited it to little more than a mini-game.

Enter "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07" for the Wii. As the preeminent golf videogame from EA Sports, the "Tiger" franchise was destined to be a system seller for the Wii. While almost all other relevant golf games are cartoonish fantasies, "Tiger" features actual golf pros, authentic courses and sponsored equipment - it's a game golf enthusiasts can appreciate.

And by and large, the initial "Tiger" outing on Wii is a success. The Wii's controls allow players to grip their Wii Remote like a club and swing away. The days of pulling and pushing an analog stick are gone and seem archaic by the Wii's new standard.

The controls are not perfect. Unlike golf in "Wii Sports" which features 1-to-1 controls where every articulation of the Wii Remote is translated on-screen, "Tiger" registers movements from the controller but not in a 1-to-1 manner. Instead, bringing the controller backward begins and completes the player's backswing, regardless if the controller is brought back all the way. Controller speed and direction is translated by the system, but once the on-screen character completes their backswing it's impossible to strike the ball at less than 75 percent. The only way to hit the ball lightly is to quickly swing the controller forward during the onscreen player's backswing. It's a little awkward at first, but it can be mastered within a few rounds

In addition to the basic swing mechanics, the angle with which the controller is held and manipulated during the swing results in hooks and slices in the game. If you have a natural slice in real life, chances are you will in the game, too, but it can be counteracted relatively easily.

Like other "Tiger" games, ball spin can be applied while the ball is in the air. To do this on the Wii you simply select the spin direction you want on the d-pad and shake the controller. It's definitely not the most realistic aspect of the game, but it allows players to correct errant shots.

While putting was an issue with "Wii Sports" golf, it's a breeze in "Tiger." Practice swings allow the player to gauge the power necessary for sinking a shot and breaks in the green are clearly displayed.

As far as game modes go, "Tiger" has a lot to offer. Everything from a full-on PGA Tour mode with a custom character, to quick 9-hole rounds and arcade games involving shooting balls through hoops is included. The only thing the game is missing is online play - but so is every other Wii game to date.

Visually the game is far from pretty and appears to be a straight port from the previously released Gamecube version of the game. But after a few minutes of play, gamers won't notice the poor graphics at all. The gameplay is so immersive and just plain fun that the dated visuals won't even cross your mind.

Ultimately that's the beauty of the Wii and "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07;" the gameplay is a blast. The controls may not be perfect and the graphics may be unstylish, but you will not find a game as fun as "Tiger 07" on Wii.

Four stars out of five

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
EA Sports
Nintendo Wii